The face of ‘evil’: Accused Christchurch shooter is unmasked after ban on picturing him is dropped

A ban on New Zealand media showing the face of the Australian man arrested over the Christchurch mosque shootings has been dropped.

Cameras were in court when 28-year-old Brenton Tarrant appeared in court for the first time on March 16, the day after the terror attack that killed 51.

However, an order made during the appearance meant local media had to pixelate the former NSW resident’s face in any images they published. 

On Thursday, High Court Justice Cameron Mander issued a ruling dropping the suppression.

‘The Crown has advised there is no longer a need for the images of the defendant’s face to be suppressed and the order now lapses,’ he said.

The reasoning for the original ban was not included.

The decision comes ahead of Tarrant’s return to court, via videolink from his prison, next week.

The decision comes ahead of Tarrant’s return to court, via videolink from his prison, next week

He is expected to enter pleas to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and a single, unprecedented, terrorism charge.

 The suspected white supremacist is being held in New Zealand’s only maximum-security jail, in Auckland.

Prison authorities have confirmed he has had no access to television, radio, newspapers or visitors.

After the attack, multiple New Zealand media organisations said they would attempt to use his name as little as possible and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she would not name him to avoid adding to his notoriety.